COLUMBUS, Ohio – On Monday, January 25th, Elementary school students who attend Columbus City Schools will begin to get H1N1 vaccinations if they have returned parental consent forms.
Parents received letters from school principals and many also received phone calls reminding them about the upcoming clinics.
CCS will hold the events at four elementary school buildings Monday morning and four more Monday afternoon. Eight buildings will have clinics each day until all 81 elementary schools are done. Middle and high schools will hold clinics February 10 – 18. Ninety-nine percent of the students will receive the nasal mist vaccine.
District officials want to remind parents that consent forms are available on the district’s website.
Shawna Kempton’s son has asthma and is a student at Parsons Elementary School in South Columbus. He already got a vaccine at his doctor’s office. “Flu shots are important for him, regardless, but the H1N1 is really scary, so we would have done that whether he had asthma or not,” his mother said.
Shirley Simpson is a parent and a nurse. She isn’t so sure about the vaccine. “I don’t think there’s enough research done on this vaccination to put my child at a possible risk in another year, five years or 10 years. I don’t feel comfortable with it.”
Parents with questions can call their school principals. Jose Rodriguez, Columbus Public Health spokesperson, says there’s 40 years worth of research that tells us that flu vaccines are extremely effective in keeping the flu away. “We’ve been giving the vaccine for several months since October and the vaccine has a great track record of safety so far.” Rodriguez wants parents to know that a third wave of H1N1 illnesses is still possible.
He said when the pandemic hit in 1918 and 1956 there were three waves and there have only been two waves since H1N1 hit last year. Doctors say February and March are the peak of flu season. Rodriguez says local research shows African Americans are at an increased risk of H1N1-related hospitalizations. He says Blacks are nearly three times more likely to be hospitalized due to influenza complications.
For frequently updated H1N1 information and resources, visit Columbus Flu http://www.columbuspandemicflu.org. Columbus residents can also call 2-1-1 for information.
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